Flake ice making machine



Nov. 12, 1957 A. H. NEWMAN FLAKE ICE MAKING MACHINE Filed Jan. 19, 19532 Sheets-Sheet 1 Nov. 12, 1957 A. H. NEWMAN FLAKE ICE MAKING MACHINE 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 19,

nited States Patent fiiee 2,812,644 Patented Nov. 12, 1957 FLAKE ICEMAKING MACHINE Albert Hardy Newman, Lake Forest, Ill. ApplicationJanuary 19, 1953, Serial No. 332,024 7 Claims. (Cl. 62-406) My inventionrelates to a flake ice making machine characterized by simpleconstruction, reliable operation, and a high degree of effectiveness inproducing dry flakes of ice.

in one form of flake ice making machine a cylindrical evaporator ismaintained below the freezing temperature of water and water flowed onthe interior face thereof to freeze. A rotor carrying an ice harvestingdevice is rotated within the cylinder to dislodge the frozen water inflake form. Suitable means is provided to supply water to the top edgeof the cylinder to freeze on the inner face thereof and to interrupt theWater supply in the region of the harvesting device to assure theproduction of cold, dry ice and to avoid contamination of the ice bydripping Water.

The present invention contemplates an improved machine of the above typewherein the water is distributed on the face of the cylindricalevaporator through a pair of annular gutters. The water flows over thelips of the gutters in a uniform and steady flow which is interruptedonly by a shoe which revolves with the rotor to prevent flow in theregion of the moving ice harvester. Water dripping from the cylinder isdeflected radially outwardly by the conical beveled lower edge of theevaporator so as to fall into a suitable annular water trough. It theremixes with make-up water which is flowing circumferentially about thistrough and is recirculated to form ice.

The present invention also contemplates an improved baflle arrangementthat maintains a high velocity of liquid refrigerant flow adjacent thefreezing face of the drum. This high velocity flow minimizes dilficultydue to oil contamination of the refrigerant and improves the heat flowbetween the refrigerant and the freezing surface. The evaporator is alsoprovided with means to assure that the escaping refrigerant is in thegaseous form uncontaminated by liquid droplets while at the same timeany oil-laden foam is returned to the compressor.

It is, therefore, a general object of the present invention to providean improved flake ice making machine.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved waterfeeding means for a flake ice making machine.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an improvedwater distribution device for a flake ice making machine.

Further, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improvedevaporator drum for a flake ice making machine.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improvedstructure for an evaporator which avoids the return of liquidrefrigerant while at the same time acts to return any oil-laden foam.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an improvedmake-up water circulating means in a flake ice machine.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved watercollecting mechanism for a flake ice making machine,

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a flake icemaking machine incorporating the above devices.

The novel features which I believe to be characteristic of my inventionare set forth with particularity in the appended claims. My inventionitself, together with further objects and advantages thereof, will bestbe understood by reference to the following description taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a view in axial cross section of a machine constructed inaccordance with the present invention with parts shown in diagrammaticform;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view through axis 2-2, Figure1;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary view in cross section through axis 3-3, Figure1;

Figure 4 is a view like Figure 2 but showing an alternative form of thepresent invention;

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view through axis 5-5, Figure 4; and

Figure 6 is a fragmentary view of an alternative ice harvester for themachine of Figure 1.

In Figure 1, there is shown generally at 1 an evaporator drum. This drumconsists of concentric cylindrical outer and inner jackets 1a and 1bdefining an annular space closed at the top by the annular top member 10and at the bottom by the annular bottom member 1d. The bottom member lahas a stepped or seating portion 12 which forms a socket into which thecylindrical bafile 2 is seated and welded in place as indicated at 2a.Below and inwardly of this socket portion la the bottom member 1dextends to proximity with the inner member 112 to form a restrictedannular passage 1 Below passage 1f, the bottom member 1d expandsoutwardly to form the V-shaped annular passage 1g in conjunction withthe inner jacket 1b.

The top edge 2b of the bafile 2 is at all points spaced from the topmember 1c to define an edge over which refrigerant can flow in gaseousor liquid form to the outer annular space indicated generally at 111.Refrigerant escapes from the evaporator drum 1 through the outlet pipe 3which is located well up on the outer jacket 1a. Refrigerant is suppliedto the drum 1 by the pipe 4, which carries the refrigerant in liquidform to the annular header 1g.

Refrigerant travels through suitable pipes (not shown) from the outletpipe 3 of the evaporator 1 to the intake passage of the'motor drivencompressor 5 (not shown). In the compressed vapor phase, the refrigerantis discharged from the pump into a condenser 5a where it passes into thefluid state. It then travels through pipe 6 to the heat exchanger 7,where it further cools. Heat exchanger 7 includes pipes (not shown)which receive the vaporized returning refrigerant, together with oilbearing foam, from the pipe 3. The condensate then travels through pipe8, dehydrator 9, and pipe 10 to the venturi unit 11. The latterdischarges into pipe 4, which in turn feeds the evaporator 1, thuscompleting the circuit.

The venturi unit 11 includes a nozzle 11a which imparts a high velocityto the refrigerant and hence a low static head. Consequently, liquidrefrigerant collected at the bottom of annular space 111 is drawnthrough pipe 12 to mix with the incoming liquid refrigerant to berecirculated. By this means a greater flow of refrigerant travels pastthe inner jacket 11; than is actually evaporated assuring a floodedcondition of refrigerant along the inner face of the jacket 1b and alsogreater velocity (and hence improved heat transfer and flushing ofentrapped gas) is achieved between the inner jacket 1b and therefrigerant.

It will be noted that the refrigerant travelling up the approximately asshown at 20, Figure 1, and assures that the liquid refrigerant escapesover the top of the bafile at points spaced from the outlet pipe 3. Thishas the advantage of assuring that the refrigerant escaping through thepipe 3 is in gaseous form uncontaminated by splashing or droplets of theliquid refrigerant. In addition, this construction automatically freesthe evaporator 1 from any oil logging because any oil in the refrigerantcauses foaming over the top of the'baffle 1i. The foaming that thusoccurs causes the oil-laden foam to. escape through the pipe 3 to thepump 5 where it belongs. The relatively heavy liquid refrigerant spillsover the low side of thebaffle 1i while the very light oil-bearing foamis sucked over the entire peripheral surface of the baffle. Window 1 isprovided for convenient observation of the action of the refrigerant inthe annular space 1h.

Water is fed or supplied to the inner face of the drum 1 by the unitshown generally at 13. This unit at its bottom face has a pair ofannular ribs or feet which are held against the upper face of the topmember 1c by a series of bolts 14 which .are threadedly received in theunit 13. while at the same time minimizing heat transfer therefrom andthe consequent risk of freezing of the feed water. part unitary'with thetop member 1c, or may have a considerable area of contact therewith soas to precool-water in trough 13b.

At-its top face the unit 13 defines a pair of radially spaced annulartroughs, indicated at 13a and 13b, respectively. These troughs have acommon lip 130 which forms an annular weir over which the feed watertravels from trough 13a to trough 13b. The other'lip of trough 13b is inregistration with the inner face of the freezing drum 1 and is at alower level than lip 13c. Feed water travels through the pipe 15 intothe outer trough 13a as shown.

The annular troughs 13a and 13b with their weirdefining lips 13c and 13dhave been found to give a uniform flow of water onto the freezingsurface of drum 1. This is highly desirable since the uniformity of theice formed depends in a large measure on the uniformity of the watersupply.

Water dripping from the jacket 1b falls into the annular gutter 16adefined by the bottom member 16. Gutter 16a is radially outward of thejacket 1b so that it does not tend to catch the dropping ice which fallsfreely into container 17. The jacket 1b is conically bevelled at itslower extremity as shown at 1k to define an annular edge in registrywith the gutter 16a and from which water drips into gutter 16a. Thewater dripping down the jacket 1b adheres to the surface of that jacketby reason of surface tension and hence travels along the face 1k in adownwardand radially outward direction to drop into the gutter 16a.

As shown in'Figure 3, a web 16b spans the gutter 16a in the regionadjacent the intake reservoir 17a and .the discharge reservoir 17bdefined by the housing 17. The intake make-up'watertravels from thereservoir 17a through the pipe 18 into the circumferential path definedby the web 1617. The make-up. water-progressively augmented by thedripping water to be recirculatedtravels circumferentially about thegutter 16a to be discharged through pipe 19 and into the reservoir-17b.'

Pump.20,.-located in reservoir 17b, pumps the combined This provides afirm anchorage for unit 13 Ifdesired, the unit 13 may bein whole or in 4make-up water and recirculating water therein through the pipe 22' andthe valve 24 into the trough 13a.

The circumferential flow of make-up water through the gutter 16aprovides a flushing action that prevents freezing of that gutter, meltsany entrapped ice flakes and, in addition, assures a uniform mixture ofmake-up water and recirculating water.

The ice is harvested by the rotor unit indicated generally at 26,Figure 1. This unit comprises a shaft 28 which is rotated slowly by themotor 34 through the worm gear 32 and bull gear 30. The rotor 26 issupported concentrically with the evaporator drum by the bearings 28aand 28b. The former is in turn supported by the spider arms 16cextending inwardly from the part 16. Bearing 26b is supported by the topframe member 35. The shaft 26 carries a pair of aligned radial arms 38and 44 which have aligned bearing-defining holes 38:: and 46a,respectively. These holes receive the cylindrical bearing end portionsof the harvester 42.

The harvester 42 is of generally cylindrical construction with a spiraledged knife part 4201 protruding therefrom. The bearing holes'38a and40a are so spaced with respect to the inner face of the inner jacket 1bthat the part 42a has a suitable ice-cutting and dislodging spacingtherefrom. As the rotor '26 turns, the knife edge 42a bites into anddislodges the ice to harvest the ice in flakes from the surface uponwhich it is frozen.

If desired the harvester 42 may have a series of jacketing non-spiraledice-cutting edges. This is shown in Figure 6 where the harvester isindicated at 142-and the edges indicated at 142a.

Also, if desired, either the form of the harvester shown in Figure 1 orthat shown in Figure 6 may be positively driven, either to impart thesame relative velocity as the freezing surface of drum 1 or some othervelocity. Rotations of the harvester may also be braked if desired.

The fiowof water over lip 13d onto the freezing inner face of the drum-1 is interrupted in the region of the harvester 42 by the shoe 44'.This shoe rides on the lip 13d and extends both in advance of theharvester 42 and behind the harvester. The top part of the shoe isreceived in the arcuate support member 46 which defines a socket46a forthis purpose. The support 46 threadedly receives a series of bolts 48which extend through the holes 38b, Figure l, in the arm 38 to give avertically movable lost motion support for the member 46 and for theshoe 44 while confining the same to circumferential movement in unisonwith the rotor 26.

The shoe 44 may be of felt, rubber, or other suitable substance whichwill hold back water flow over lip 13d. It is desirable to use amaterial that wears faster than lip 13d to minimize lip wear. Wear ofthe shoe is unimportant since it is accommodated by the lost motionconnection with the rotor 26.

The shoe 44 not only prevents water flow in the region of harvester 42but, in addition, it wipes the lip 13d. Thisprevents the accumulation ofice or foreign matter on this lip and thus maintains a uniform waterflow.

Figure 4 shows an alternative embodiment of the 'present inventionwherein the shoe, indicated at 144, is

of annular shape and is received in a similar annular support member146. The latter is carried by an arm 138 which, in addition to the mainpart supporting the harvester 142, has a pair of spider arms 138a whichreceive bolts1148-loosely to define a lost motion support for the member146.

The shoe 144 has a series of radial grooves 144a in the regions spacedfrom the harvester 1421 These grooves define'radial water passages withrespect to lip 13d, in Figure 5, to permit water flow to theevaporatorsurface. Since'thesepassages are of limited size, a water pressurecan-be built upin the trough 13b and the velocity of the water can beincreased beyond that associated with the weir action of the device ofFigure 1. This increased velocity minimizes surface tension effects andreduces any tendency of this part of the unit to freeze.

If desired the lip 13c may slope from a high point opposite the pipe 15to a low point diametrically opposed to the high point. By this meanswater flow at the low point of the lip is favored, thus overcoming anytendency for greater water flow adjacent pipe 15.

While I have shown and described specific embodiments of the presentinvention, it will, of course, be understood that various modificationsand alternative embodiments may be made Without departing from the truespirit and scope thereof. I, therefore, intend by the appended claims tocover all such modifications and alternative constructions as fallwithin the true spirit and scope.

What I claim is:

l. A flake ice making machine comprising in combination: an evaporatingdrum comprising inner and outer concentric cylindrical walls and upperand lower annular walls to define an annular space, the drum having arefrigerant outlet passage at the upper portion of said space; acylindrical baffle within said space and in closely spaced relation withone of the cylindrical Walls, the baflie having a sloping top with itshighest reach in alignment with the refrigerant outlet opening of thedrum; means to introduce refrigerant to the lower portion of the spacebetween the baffle and said one cylindrical wall; means to flow Water onsaid one cylindrical wall; and means to remove ice from said onecylindrical wall.

2. In a flake ice making machine; a freezing cylinder; means to cool oneface of the cylinder to form ice thereon; an annular water troughlocated above and in radially spaced relation to said face; a secondannular water trough located above said face and having one lip incommon with the said first trough to define a weir, the other lip of thesecond annular water trough being in registry with the said face of thecylinder and below said one lip; and means to supply water to the firsttrough to flow over the said first lip to the second trough and over thesaid second lip onto said face of the cylinder.

3. In a flake ice making machine; a freezing cylinder; means to cool oneface of the cylinder to form ice thereon; an annular water troughlocated above and in radially spaced relation to said face; a secondannular water trough located above said face and having one lip incommon with the said first trough to define a weir, the other lip of thesecond annular water trough being in registry with said face of thecylinder and below said one lip; a rotor having ice harvesting meansoperable to remove ice from said face of the cylinder along a movingelement thereof; a shoe mounted for movement in unison with the rotorand to ride on said other lip, the shoe being located in registry withsaid ice harvesting means to cut off water flow to the regions of thecylinder adjacent the ice harvesting means; and means to supply water tothe first trough to flow over said first lip to the second trough andover said second lip onto said face of the cylinder in regions spacedfrom ice harvesting means.

4. In a flake ice making machine; a cylinder; means operable to cool aface of the cylinder below freezing temperature; an annular water supplytrough located above said face and having a lip over which water canflow onto said face of the cylinder; a rotor; a knife having a spiralblade rotatably mounted on the rotor and in position to ride on saidface of the cylinder; and a shoe mounted for rotation in unison with therotor and to ride on the said lip, the shoe being located to interruptthe flow of water over said lip in the region of the knife.

5. In a flake ice making machine; a cylinder; means operable to cool aface of the cylinder below freezing temperature; an annular water supplytrough located above said face and having a lip over which water canflow onto said face of the cylinder; a rotor; a knife having a spiralblade rotatably mounted on the rotor and in position to ride on saidface of the cylinder; a shoe mounted for rotation in unison with therotor and to ride on the said lip, the shoe being attached to the rotorby a vertically movable lost motion connection.

6. In a water collecting trough for a flake ice making machine of thetype wherein water is flowed on a vertical cylindrical freezing surfaceand excess water drips from the surface, the improvement comprising; anannular water trough located below the surface to receive water drippingtherefrom, the trough having a Web at one point and defining water inletand water outlet passages adjacent the web; means to introduce waterthrough the water inlet passage to mix with the collected dripping waterand travel circumferentially about thetrough; and means to dischargewater from the outlet passage onto the top edge of the face of thecylinder for freezing.

7. A water distributing and ice harvesting device for a flake ice makingmachine of the type having a vertical freezing cylinder, the devicecomprising an annular trough with a lip in registry with the cylinderand over which water can flow onto the cylinder; a rotor; an annularshoe on the rotor and having a series of radial grooves through whichwater can flow over the lip of the trough and onto the cylinder, theshoe having a portion of substantial length free from the grooves; andan ice harvesting device mounted on the rotor in registration with saidportion of the shoe.

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